Sequestration looms

DENNIS SADOWSKI Catholic News Service

1/01/70

WASHINGTON - Christian leaders, including representatives of
the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, called on President
Barack Obama and congressional leaders of both parties to end
the fiscal brinksmanship and find a budget solution that
protects the poorest Americans.

In a Feb. 25 letter, the religious leaders urged the
political leaders to "frame the budget debate in terms of
moral choices that are understandable to the American
people."

"We must weigh the benefits of tax credits for low-income
people and tax breaks for high-income people; of nutrition
assistance to low-income families and subsidies to
agricultural businesses," the letter said. "Within the
category of 'defense,' there is a difference between
legitimate national security and unnecessary spending.

"Congress can and must develop a balanced and thoughtful path
forward that protects the most vulnerable and preserves
economic opportunity," nearly 100 faith leaders wrote.

Bishop Stephen E. Blaire of Stockton, Calif., chairman of the
U.S. bishops' Committee on Domestic Justice and Human
Development, Bishop Richard E. Pates of Des Moines, Iowa,
chairman of the bishops' Committee on International Justice
and Peace, and Auxiliary Bishop Denis J. Madden of Baltimore,
chairman of the bishops' Committee on Ecumenical and
Interreligious Affairs, were among those urging political
leaders to maintain a "circle of protection" around programs
focused on hungry and poor people in the U.S. and around the
world.

The letter comes as $1.2 trillion in cuts in government
spending on domestic and military programs over the next
decade were set to kick in March 1.

Among programs affected are loan guarantees to small
business, Head Start, food inspections, law enforcement,
scientific research, mental health, drug approvals, workplace
safety and military contracting.

"Our long-term fiscal challenges will not be solved by
increasing the burden on those who Jesus called the 'least of
these,'" the letter explained in affirming the government's
responsibility to poor people.

"Moving from one crisis to another has slowed economic
recovery and has kept Congress from finding a sound, moral
path to fiscal sustainability," the letter said. "Other
important issues go unaddressed, all the increasing cynicism
about our political process. Congress' actions should not
provoke serious economic setback or push more people into
poverty."

While commending the president and Congress for taking steps
to reduce the country's budget deficit by an estimated $2
trillion earlier this year, the leaders called for steps that
lead to further cost savings and additional revenue "that
don't increase poverty."

Specifically, the letter explained that Medicare reform could
occur without harming people who depend on the health care
coverage it provides and that ideas to find savings in
Medicaid should avoid cutting benefits and restricting
eligibility requirements or shifting costs to states.

The leaders also indicated that they continued to pray for
political leaders to engage in respectful debate so that
their efforts would advance the common good.

The letter comes on the heels of more than 100 events in 23
states in mid-February calling for limited cuts in spending
on social services and closing tax loopholes to raise federal
revenues.

Other religious leaders signing the letter included the
leaders of the National Baptist Convention, National
Association of Evangelicals, Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America and National Council of Churches of Christ as well as
Bread for the World, Jubilee USA Network, National Council of
Churches and World Relief.